Mur-de-Bretagne, France – July 11, 2025 – Tadej Pogacar is back where he belongs — in the yellow jersey — after delivering a thrilling victory in Stage 7 of the 2025 Tour de France. The Slovenian superstar and defending champion edged out arch-rival Jonas Vingegaard in a dramatic summit sprint to reclaim the race lead in emphatic fashion.
The 197km ride from Saint-Malo to the punishing climb at Mur-de-Bretagne was always expected to shake things up, and it did not disappoint. Pogacar, representing UAE Team Emirates, timed his final attack to perfection, launching a powerful sprint that left Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) chasing shadows. Britain’s Oscar Onley crossed the line in third, completing the podium on an intense day of racing.
Back in Yellow — And Back in Control
With this win, Pogacar — now a three-time Tour de France champion — claimed his second stage victory of this year’s race and reclaimed the coveted yellow jersey, which had briefly belonged to Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel. The Alpecin–Deceuninck rider, who began the day with a slim one-second advantage, finished 22nd and slipped to fifth in the general classification.
Belgian star Remco Evenepoel, who finished strong, now sits second overall, trailing Pogacar by 54 seconds.
“I’m super happy with the win today,” Pogacar said after the race. “We did almost everything perfectly. Unfortunately, Joao [Almeida] crashed — I hope he’s okay. If he is, then it’s a perfect day. If not, this win is for him.”
Memories, Momentum, and Mur-de-Bretagne
Mur-de-Bretagne has been a meaningful location in recent Tour history. Van der Poel claimed his first ever Tour stage and donned the yellow jersey for the first time here in 2021. Although he couldn’t replicate that magic today, he remained philosophical and grateful.
“I was quite sure I would lose the jersey today so I tried to enjoy it as much as possible,” Van der Poel said. “Coming back here wearing yellow again, four years later, is quite special.”
Veteran Effort and Crowd Pleasers
Earlier in the stage, fans were treated to a nostalgic moment when 2018 Tour winner Geraint Thomas — racing in what is likely his final Tour de France — joined a breakaway group with over 140km still to go. Among the escapees was 22-year-old local hero Ewen Costiou (Arkea-B&B Hotels), who had a brief but celebrated moment out front as the race passed through his home region. The roar from the Breton crowd was deafening as he crested the Mur-de-Bretagne ahead of the peloton.
But the real drama came in the final circuit. After a crash with just six kilometres to go disrupted the bunch — bringing down Almeida and Stage 6 winner Ben Healy — the focus shifted to the leaders. Pogacar, Evenepoel, and Vingegaard broke away in the final two kilometres, setting up a thrilling showdown.
The Rivalry Continues
In the last kilometre, only Vingegaard could stay with Pogacar’s explosive surge. But it wasn’t enough. The Slovenian crossed the finish line with a triumphant fist pump, making a clear statement: the yellow jersey is back on his shoulders, and he doesn’t plan to give it up again easily.
Saturday’s Stage 8 offers some temporary respite — a 171.4km mostly flat route from Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Laval — but expect more fireworks soon. With Pogacar and Vingegaard renewing their legendary rivalry, this Tour de France is just heating up.
